The Odyssey

Theatre ad Infinitum have consistently impressed at the Edinburgh Fringe year after year. The company’s innovative productions always amaze audiences with their originality and unique style. The Odyssey is no exception. One man, the talented George Mann, portrays the entirety of Homer’s Greek Epic in just over seventy minutes. The concept is a clever one, and reconnects the ancient tale to its original oral storytelling form, while the fast pace and lively style of the piece make it reminiscent of a modern action movie.

The Vault Festival is the perfect venue for this imaginative one-man show. The empty tunnels under Waterloo station are unnervingly similar to many of the Edinburgh Fringe venues where Theatre ad Infinitum has previously performed. The sound of trains thundering above added to the damp and dense atmosphere of the makeshift theatre, creating the perfect setting for the climactic production.

The stamina of Mann was unrelenting and demonstrated his talent as a performer. His energy and precision kept the pace of the piece while he flitted in between at least fifty different characters. Highlights included a hypnotic drowning sequence and a comical transformation from man to pig. The final battle is worth commemorating for Mann’s sheer skill at combining physical precision with a range of representative noises as an accompaniment. Not only did he maintain clarity when performing a battle between dozens of men but also did it so well that you could almost see the bloodbath that he was describing. But Mann’s main strength was his soundscaping, which played a central role in the production. Mann’s whooshes and screeches created a soundboard that was reminiscent of a cartoon superhero film. They ranged from exaggerated swooshes to represent gods flying through the air to remarkably realistic creaking noises which recalled the rocking of ships. While unique and entertaining, it was slightly overused and often disrupted the flow of the production.

It is testament to Mann’s talent as a storyteller, and in his strong collaboration with Paldi, that all the male characters were acutely personalized, from the camp Bond-villain suitors to the blind and ancient Tiresias. Unfortunately, the female characters were not so varied or as fully conceptualized, which is shame because Homer provides us with a range of subtly different women, from the sexually assertive Calypso to the wise and powerful Athena. Perhaps the vocal range of Mann hindered him from giving his female personas the individualized personalities they called for. Yet Calypso’s delightful falsetto suggested otherwise. Whatever the reason, his small voiced Penelope lacked the warmth and intelligence of the original. Perhaps if she had been given the depth her character calls for, the play would have gotten the extra emotion it somewhat lacked.

Despite its weaknesses, The Odyssey, and Theatre ad Infinitum along with it, remained true to its central theme: the importance of storytelling. The show ends with the image of Penelope and Odysseus lying in bed and ‘reveling in stories’. It is safe to say the audience will do the same.

About The Author

Sophia Leuner, born and bred in London, is pursing a career as a writer and director. She currently lives in Dublin, where she is exploring Ireland’s rich theatrical history and launching her production company, Hairpin Productions.

Athol Fugard’s play Blood Knot receives an important revisit from director Matthew Xia at the Orange Tree Theatre in a t...

Support Plays To See

We need sponsors in order to expand our network of contributors and our connections with theatres and cultural organisations around the world.

We are now able to accept credit/debit card donations directly from this site, with the security of PayPal. No sum is too small.

Thank you for your support!

Donate Today!

The Odyssey

2015-02-22

4.0Reviewer’s Rating

Playstosee.com is a showcase for talent, particularly young talent, allowing them a platform to share their knowledge and appreciation of drama, musicals, opera, comedy, cabaret, ballet and even the circus. Our reach is truly global so our reviewers have the pleasure of knowing that their reviews will be read by people around the world.

We need sponsors in order to expand our network of contributors and our connections with theatres and cultural organisations around the world.

No sum is too small.

To pledge a donation by cheque, select ‘Offline Donation’ below. For a donation via credit card, select the PayPal option – you do not actually need a PayPal account in order to make a credit card donation through PayPal.

Add 25% more to your donation at no cost to you. A Gift Aid declaration allows Plays To See to claim tax back on eligible donations. It means that for every £1 you donate to Plays To See we can claim back 25p, at no extra cost to you.

By ticking the "Yes" box, I agree I would like Plays To See to reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as any future donations, until I notify them otherwise. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year I may be asked to pay any difference. I understand that Plays To See will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I give.

What is Gift Aid?

Gift Aid does not cost you a penny more, but can add an additional 25p to every £1 you donate. When Plays To See receives a donation from a UK taxpayer, we're entitled to claim an amount of tax (calculated at the basic rate of income tax in that year) paid on that donation. Once you have given your permission for us to do this on your behalf, there is no need for you to do anything else.

All that is required is that you must be a taxpayer and that would have paid or will pay sufficient Income and/or Capital Gains Tax to cover all the Gift Aid claimed on all your donations in that tax year. Please note that it is your responsibility to pay any difference.

The amount of tax we claim will be 25% of the total value of your donations in that tax year. Furthermore, if you are a higher taxpayer, you are also entitled to claim the difference between the basic rate which we will claim and the amount of tax you have actually paid. For further details on how you can do this, please contact your tax office. If your tax situation changes and your gifts will no longer be eligible for the Gift Aid scheme please contact us and we will amend your record accordingly.

Our Mission

Plays To See explores diverse cultures through the medium of the performing arts. It aims to promote interest in the theatre and foster dialogue, understanding and appreciation for different artistic productions around the world.
Our scope is wide-ranging, from Greek tragedy to stand-up comedy; from ballet and opera to mime and experimental theatre.